Quest continues. Thoughts on this conversion van???

[dr_nelson]

I hope this one checks out for you guys. Year, Miles, and price look OK.

 

[PineyCruisin]

Thanks, Dr Nelson. I hope so too.

 

[Optimistic Paranoid]

Looks pretty good.  Actually, looks so good I was wondering if it had been repainted.  It is, after all, 20 years old and the desert sun is rough on paint.

If you can confirm with CarFax that it really is a Nevada van, and there were no major accidents reported, I would look favorably on it.

 

[PineyCruisin]

Now that you mention it, you are right. Not even the hightop looks like it is peeling. Granted, it is only one picture from far away.

I actually rather prefer the flat white with no pinstripes but bummer if he was trying to cover up any major collision damage.

 

[acfdexpo]

Hey good luck on your such from a fellow piney not too many of us from New Jersey on here.  I will keep an eye out as well for you,  that is if this last one doesn't pan out.

 

[djkeev]

I'm Jersey..... when I picked up my 03 Dodge there was almost a line waiting to see it!
There wasn't time for hemming and hawing trying to decide. Yes or No? Phone's ringing off the hook!
It was $2,500, low miles without a hitch, which is a major plus.
I found it out towards Phillipsburg on CL.

I've done nothing to it yet. Just parked it. Ironically I'm owner #3..... owner #2 was from Asbury Park!
I grew up in Eatontown way back when Monmouth mall was brand new and an outside shopping center.

Dave

 

[PineyCruisin]

Hey thanks and hello back! (wish there was a waving emoticon).

Kept the username from a wrangler forum I used to belong to....don't live in the barrens, per se, but did ALOT of exploring with the jeep and love it out there. Actually bought the jeep 6 yrs ago from a young feller in Chadsworth. 

THanks so much for keeping your eye on one for me. There was an 03 Chevy listed in Tabernacle a few weeks ago for around $23,000 and that's the only one I have ever seen listed in that general area in the 3 months I've been looking. 

Do you know of any local publications that may have some conversion vans listed....especially the small lot dealers? I noticed that a lot of the local small dealers do not have websites and I don't see them listed on autoshopper.com, cars.com, etc.

 

[PineyCruisin]

Good gawd, Dave, what a steal!

When did you purchase it? Why was it only $2500? No corrosion problems?

 

[John61CT]

Better hurry before I run over there

 

[djkeev]

I purchased it last Fall. 

Mechanically it is very good. 
It has road/sun rash, decals peeling and sun damaged paint here and there. The PO obviously pulled into a garage in which access was not granted due to height! 

There is some fiberglass worked required. 
It has running boards and where they fasten in front of the rear wheels there is some rot due to poor fastener technique. 

I have the skills to remedy these problems, I've been collecting and restoring neglected Air Cooled VWs for more years than I care to admit. 

Not a creme puff but a very solid unit that needs some love. 
Why have I let it sit? ...... my Wife and I purchased a retirement house out near Reading Pennsylvania that was abandoned in 2013 and was obviously shown little love for years before that! 
I've spent every free minute and dollar dragging that old house into the 21st Century! 
Not much to look at outside yet ..... but inside it has been reborn! 

This morning.....
<a href="http://s1115.photobucket.com/user/d...1EBD24AA-97A7-4F86-8DA8-1F2144DA90C6.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums...oads/1EBD24AA-97A7-4F86-8DA8-1F2144DA90C6.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 1EBD24AA-97A7-4F86-8DA8-1F2144DA90C6.jpg"></a>


Dave

 

[GotSmart]

I would be looking at that Dodge...

 

[CautionToTheWind]

PineyCruisin- very nice! ++with the top!

 

[caretaker]

PC, have you ever been to the barrens,,,have you ever seen the write up in national geographic, i think it was from 1976,,,looked real fascinating, it would be interesting to read it now and then go look at it now and see how much its changed.

 

[PineyCruisin]

[font=Verdana, Arial, sans-serif]djkeev[/font][font=Verdana, Arial, sans-serif] [/font]
Why have I let it sit? ...... my Wife and I purchased a retirement house out near Reading Pennsylvania that was abandoned in 2013 and was obviously shown little love for years before that! 
I've spent every free minute and dollar dragging that old house into the 21st Century! 
Not much to look at outside yet ..... but inside it has been reborn! 

This morning.....

Dave, that house is adorable! And love the land, too...very serene. No wonder you purchased it. I'm originally from rural central PA so reminds me of home somewhat. 

We are rowing in the same boat with home improvement projects (although it sounds like you have a bit more work on your end). And the reason that you haven't been working on your van is the very reason we've sadly passed on the Dodge. It had way too much work needed to make it enjoyable for getting away and we have too much to do on this house to get it ready for selling that we don't have any additional time on extensive van remodels. It was our hope to immediately enjoy whatever van we purchase without having to do much to prep.

I'm a bit disappointment because it seemed like a solid vehicle besides the interior. If it wasn't for this house, we'd definitely enjoy building the inside out from scratch.

Good luck on your van improvments!

 

[PineyCruisin]

Better hurry before I run over there

It's all yours, John.  

We were a bit disappointed to have to pass on it (see above post). Seems like a good 'un if you have the time to finish the interior.

 

[PineyCruisin]

PineyCruisin- very nice! ++with the top!

I know! (and there is no sobbing emoticon either...guess this one will do  ) 

And barn doors....and sliding windows.....and barely any running boards....sigh.....

I was wondering why the heck it took some a year or more to find their vehicles. Now I know.

 

[Alcatraz]

WELL......SON OF A FREAKIN" BEE!!!!

Remember when I told you how many freakin' dealers are posing as "private owners" around here. Well, this one took the OSCAR for best posing in a Craigslist ad!!!

Looked up the carfax and wouldn't you know, this vehicle was sold at auction on 2/22/16 and taken over by a dealer. He collects cars alright but probably by flipping them and lying to potential buyers about his supposed "ownership".

I could tell you guys so many stories of all the shenanigans we have run into. I really should make a list to warn others.

On to the next freakin van. Can you tell I am getting just a little bit frustrated.

Tax scam more then likely.

 

[PineyCruisin]

PC, have you ever been to the barrens,,,have you ever seen the write up in national geographic, i think it was from 1976,,,looked real fascinating, it would be interesting to read it now and then go look at it now and see how much its changed.

No, I have not seen the article but now I would love to see it! 

I asked my husband who is originally from this area (I guess where he grew up may have even been considered the pine barrens at one time, but is now overly developed) if he has seen the NG article and he said no. Not sure what part of the pine barrens the article describes but they encompass a pretty large portion of the state and I have explored much of it in my 17 yrs+ living here. Actually, we plan on doing some camping in more of it when we get the van.

My brother was a biology major with a speciality in botany and the first thing he wanted to see was the pine barrens because so much of the plantlife is supposedly only found here. 

I'm definitely going to try to track this article down. Thanks for the heads up!

 

[Alcatraz]

Always check these old vans for cracks around the steering gearbox, where it mounts on the frame or make sure your mechanic does.
Any frame rust or stress crack will be expensive to repair.
Thats the biggest overlooked problem I seen on old van's. I seen this on all types of vans and JB weld will not fix it.




Watch this idiot driving to the shop to get his fixed. You think he would have just called a tow truck.

 

[John61CT]

Not to mention filming himself while doing it, crikey!